It’s often hard to believe the impact a loss can have on a team. Whom do you blame for the unwanted defeat? Which player or what strategy caused it? Some questions come back to haunt you. However, when the deepest secrets, or rather rumored scandals, leave the locker room, critical eyes prey on them. But, stories from the past, maybe from LeBron James’s Cavs era, say that some things are pretty common unless you want to exaggerate them. Let’s understand what’s truly going on before getting a little sneak peek into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ sacred room.
Russell Westbrook, known for his fiery personality, came into the limelight again, after ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported on the Nuggets locker room scenes after Game 2 vs. the Clippers in Round 1 of the Playoff series. While interim head coach David Adelman addressed the media postgame, tensions boiled over behind the scenes. Sources told ESPN that Brodie and Aaron Gordon clashed in a heated exchange, stealing the spotlight from the podium.
This report brought flames and fury from Kendrick Perkins and ex-Cavs star Richard Jefferson on the Road Trippin’ podcast. At the same time, Big Perks brought back memories from the LeBron James and Kyrie Irving period that shed some light on the current Denver Nuggets situation. “I do remember LeBron and Kyrie loved practicing against each other. Was it Kyrie never practiced with the starting five when they scrimmaged, or was it Bron?” Perkins asked Jefferson.
June 9, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter in game four of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“No, Bron didn’t. He went with the second unit,” Richard confirmed. It looks like the 40-year-old sometimes turned a little moody after some back-and-forth with his teammate. Not any teammate, but Kai, to be precise. “Bron would run the second unit. They’d do one or two reps with the starters, but they knew the starters had it. So Bron would come to the second unit. He’d run that, and we’d play against the rest of the starters,” Jefferson shared.
That’s not all. Allie Clifton teased out a never-heard-before insight from the 2016 NBA champ. “During one of those, let me say, there were punches thrown. At one point in time. An apology was given later. But it was respect and brotherhood. They liked making each other,” Richard Jefferson confirmed. RJ witnessed the sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet but always competitive relationship between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving during his two years at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now, that’s some story! Whoever knew about it? Probably no one. That is because the Cavs’ roster safeguarded this major reality. More like a secret mission, if you want to put it that way. And years later, Jefferson, talking about it, simply shows that if the team wants, they can surely protect such ‘ugly’ scenes from the public eye. Unlike what likely happened with the Nuggets locker room.
Maybe the Nuggets locker room could learn from the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving incident?
Tensions erupted in the Nuggets’ locker room as Aaron Gordon reportedly confronted Russell Westbrook about his attitude, sparking a moment that exposed deeper cracks within the team. While one anonymous player didn’t mince words, telling ESPN, “He’s so immature,” another chose to frame the confrontation as a reflection of the team’s core values. “The great thing about this team is we’re not afraid to talk honestly with each other and hold each other accountable,” he told ESPN. The contrast highlighted a team walking the line between conflict and cohesion, fueled by emotion but rooted in accountability.
Meanwhile, Richard Jefferson pulled back the curtain on the fierce loyalty within championship teams. He revealed that many squads, despite their success, still carry old grudges. “I wish people knew how many f—— championship teams would fucking choke each other,” he said, pointing to the Ray Allen fallout. He explained that such reactions come from bonds so tight that a simple move can feel like betrayal.
May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Kendrick Perkins also added weight to the emotion, describing how teammates shared holidays and dinners. That closeness, however, came with a code. “F— whoever leaked the source out of the [Denver] locker room and didn’t want to put their name behind it,” Perkins said. Jefferson agreed, calling such people “cowards” and insisting, “championship players keep s— tight.” Because in their world, one loose thread can unravel the whole journey.
What happens behind closed doors often defines a team’s destiny. While the Nuggets let emotions spill into the open, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving once turned chaos into chemistry behind tightly sealed Cavs walls. Moments of friction, if guarded well, can fuel greatness. But when the silence breaks, so does the trust. In the end, championship culture is not just about talent, it is about what stays in the room.
The post Punches Flew in LeBron James & Kyrie Irving’s Sacred Place, Reveals Ex-Teammate Amid Nuggets Locker-Room Leak appeared first on EssentiallySports.